BLK DRM

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

DC is a town of advocates, and it comes as no surprise when I see a car plastered in bumper stickers advocating everything from green cars to immigration reform to abortion messages (both pro-choice and pro-life), to embracing Jesus. Virginia, Maryland and DC all have very affordable vanity plates, and of course this means that cars won’t just have messages on their bumperstickers anymore, but also on their license plates.

Our friend here has decided that he’s against Digital Rights Management schemes which record companies and other digital content providers use to prevent rampant copying of their material without authorization. Many people, including the governments of several european countries, have stood up against the DRM groups.

Me, I fall somewhere in the middle. I love buying (and paying for!) digital music. No bulky CD to carry around, I can play iTunes purchases on all my computers, and I can move them around to my iPods. Yes, I realize they won’t play without iTunes. Yes, I realize that if you don’t have an iPod you’re pretty well and truly fucked, but I don’t care, to be honest. It works exactly how I want it to: I don’t have to take extra steps to make sure it will all play nice together, and it generally restricts me from giving it away to other folks.

There’s got to be a happy medium out there, where copyright holders get their due, and fans can have their flexibility, but I think in the wake of Napsteresque services at the end of the TwenCen and into the early Twentyfirst, I think we’re stuck with DRM. The trick is making sure it’s good, and it’s fair.

But, nice to see that LA’s not the only town where DRM isn’t popular, eh Boing Boing? As we wended our way through traffic today and caught this plate, we managed to miss the VA tag “FSMISM” which I’m sure would’ve ended up on their front page. Sorry Cory, we’ll work harder on that next time.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Oh Kwame Brown
how your license plate glistened
under the morning sunshine;
it reads
DC Council Member
At-Large D
in nearly impossible to read text.
that fine E350, though,
is hard to miss.

We all wanted around that panel truck,
its giant bulk lumbering up DC 295
in post-rush hour traffic
however, was it necessary
that you tailgated that DC taxpayer in his
swanky 300 M?

That luscious 3.5L engine roared
you sped ahead, right on that M’s bumper
Like white on rice.
or a politician on graft.

Oh to have such a fine ride,
and an awesome blue bowtie.
Oh Kwame Brown.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

So I am working out of a Taipei park this week, and to keep in touch with folks, I have a Skype account. This lets me call worldwide from my computer for cheap.

I’m so happy with Skype that I decided to upgrade and get a Skype phone number so people can call me on Skype using their usual cell phones or land lines (usually a computer running Skype is required).

Only one problem – Skype doesn’t offer 202 area code phone numbers!

I had to get a random number and have my office phone forwarded to it. I’m not about to be associated with a non-202 number. How un-DC would that be?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Starting August 17th, JetBlue is taking on the Delta Shuttle.

JetBlue is launching Dulles to JFK service on August 17th, with introductory fares at $39 each way, and with regular fares no higher than $145, and walkup tickets of $90 each direction available. You’ve got 3 weeks to book the cheap fares, and you have to travel by the 30th of September. Total cost of a roundtrip ticket with taxes and fees works out to less than a benjamin so get your act together and book it already.

My devotion to JetBlue could only be explained through their amazing service, which you have to experience for yourself. Leather seats, TVs in every seat with 24 channels of DirecTV, and soon enough, inflight wireless internet access will be available, as they bought part of the spectrum that could be used for that. Sign me up!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

My friend Oli from Australia has been going on and on and on and on about the World Cup soccer tournament that’s starting tomorrow at noon local, and I just haven’t ever managed to work up some fervor about this giant tournament of nations. While DCist wants you to head to tiny (but great) Bar Pilar, or maybe to ESPN Zone, why not cross the river and go to Summers instead? After the 2002 World Cup, it was voted Best Soccer Bar in America, especially considering it was open 24/7 during the ’02 World Cup when fans were crowding into the bar at 4 in the morning for plates of steaming hot breakfast in order to watch the matches.

Sure, you could go to Fado (which will serve Guinness for the 9am matches) or to another bar in the District, but why not go to one of the best soccer bars in the world, instead?

Summers will be doing replays of the daytime games (remember that Germany is a good 6 hours ahead of us right now) during the evening, so don’t be afraid of having to take a long lunch if you’re willing to watch on tape delay. The US kicks off their first game on Monday at noon against the Czech Republic, then won’t play again the following Saturday when they face off against Italy, but there are three games a day, every day starting tomorrow and going through the 23rd, after which we get into the more complicated Round of 16. In order to advance, teams must complete mathematical forumlae that make the BCS formula look fairly simple.

Summers is charging $10 if you only want to just watch the game, but order a couple of beers or some food and you ought to be in pretty good shape. See you there for kickoff!

Summers Bar

1520 N Courthouse Rd.

Arlington VA

Courthouse Metro is 1 block away

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I didn’t always feel this way. When I heard Charlie Slowes and Dave Shea in Spring Training last year, I wasn’t sure that they were the right men for the job, and it frustrated me. Neither of them seemed to have any character in those early games. It was like listening to paint dry, only without the excitement. Then, one day, the Nats won a game and Charlie tried something I’m sure he’d thought about for a while. He just cut loose, his voice crescendoing, “BANG! ZOOM! There go the fireworks!” as Nick Johnson rounded the bases on a homerun.

Instantly, a catch-phrase was born.

Since then, Dave Shea was unceremoniously replaced with Dave Jagler, and the Nats aren’t quite at the same apex as they were this time last year, but one phrase remains, and though Bud Selig himself may track me down and sue me, I insist on recounting part of this copyrighted broadcast without the written permission of the office of the commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Tonight it was Bang! Zoom! There go the fireworks! Another curly W is in the books for the Nationals!

Thank you, Charlie, for giving me something to really enjoy when the Nats cap off another win, like they did over the Phillies. 7 of 8. 8 of 11. 12 of 16. I look forward to tomorrow night’s game, and yet another curly W.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Ferrari

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

I love driving. There’s something that’s elemental about getting out on the open road with a map in one hand and the other on the wheel. This summer, I’m doing a two week roadtrip through the Midwest, and I’m salivating just thinking about it.

Driving’s not all easy, though, and parking is certainly something that drives many people nuts. However, if you own a fucking Ferrari Testarossa, the car that makes many little boys into car addicts for life, you had damn well be able to park it.

Just sayin’.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

BT Wanna-Be

Say you are in Dulles Airport’s Gate D, and you’re like me, a WiFi addict. If you whip out your laptop and fire it up looking for free WiFi, you’ll be kinda in luck.

Unlike the lack of WiFi at National Airport, in Dulles Gate D you can use BT Online. Or well part of it anyway. You’ll not be able to surf the Internet using a web browser, or use Skype to call home, but you can use Yahoo Instant Messenger.

Yes, thet’s right, BT Online changes for the use of the ports that allow browsers and Skype to work, but Yahoo IM is free for all. Me, I used to exclaim the shock of this error to my geek friends.

What will you use it for?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It is a hot and steamy summer afternoon in DC. The temperature is north of 90F in the shade, and sticky, sweaty humid. You are covered head to toe, Muslim woman style, and you’re pulling a large suitcase with a big purse over your shoulder.

What might you be thinking of doing just then?

This, I doubt would be your first choice of action – walking the wrong way down M Street, in M Street, towards Wisconsin Avenue, sweat pouring down your face cursing cars with your really bad attitude.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Okay, contest time. It seems that the DNC has decided that local strip clubs are the place to go for new voters.

Here’s the contest. Complete the phrase “Searching for Votes at Camelot is Like…”

There have to be some really good answers to this one…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Gangsta Sebring

Originally uploaded by mrkon.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has released their findings regarding auto theft in 2005, and no surprise, Escalades are what every car thief wants this year.

Except in DC.

Where they’re stealing Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Sebrings and Plymouth Breezes.

Can I get a what the fuck, people? How is it that despite all the crazy expensive cars that are around this city, and we do have a Maserati dealer in town, that thieves are going after the Stratus/Sebring/Breeze? If you’re going to risk felony auto theft, and likely carjacking to boot, why in the name of all that is good and lubricated with synthetic oil are you going to waste it on a car that has, if you’re very lucky, a 4 cylinder engine? And only 150hp?

That’s what I can’t figure out. If you’re going to end up going to jail for it, you might as well make it worth your while by stealing a 7 series or one of those snazzy Hummers that I see on K St. C’mon, auto thieves, you’re giving DC a bad name.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Capitol Punishment is all over MLB Draft Day today, and so far the Nats have a couple of picks in the first round: Chris Marrero, another third baseman, and Colton Willems, a right-handed pitcher. The second round brings Sean Black (Righty Pitcher), Stephen Englund (Shortstop) and Stephen King (also a Shortstop).

Okay, I can see taking two pitchers in the first round, but can someone explain to me why we’re drafting another 3B with our first pick? And why we needed two shortstops in the second round? I mean, we’re just one more away from a trifecta of shortstops, which of course translates numerically to 666.

Perfect. How very Slayerific.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A worthy tribute to Slayer was given today by Fairfax County, who are widening a 6.6 mile stretch of the yet unfinished Fairfax County Parkway to six lanes. Though the funds haven’t been allocated for the project yet, it would be fitting to see the Slayer Foundation give up $66.6 million of the projected $110 million for the deal.

All Hail Slayer!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Say you’re in a rush for your flight, you’re smart enough to be leaving out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), and you took Metrorail there.

Exiting the train, you’re gonna get a sign. A big, broad, hard-to-miss sign telling you where to go. A sign I only wish other airport metro stations would give. At Boston Logan, the exact change sign is an exact annoyance.

The sign you’ll see, like the one below, is why I know WMATA ♥ National, and you should too.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

That’s right, it’s 6 June 2006, or, as I’m sure pretty much every superstitious person is warning the world, 06/06/06!!! The sign of the devil! Panic! Run!

Or, you could buy the crazy psycho‘s new book.

But really, if we’re going to start celebrating 6/6/6 properly, we need a National Day of Slayer, taking our boomboxes out on the Mall, or Dupont Circle or Farragut West, slapping in some Slayer and moshing in the middle of the park.

Of course, if you’re not down with the heavy guitar riffs of Slayer, but you’re still violently inclined, perhaps it’s time for National Emo Kid Beatdown Day, where you are allowed to assault emo kids with impunity for their butchery of the english language online, and for moping constantly, and having bad hair.

How are you celebrating this 6/6/6?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There I was, driving home from Bethesda through lovely DC, when I spotted the sign: “Maxim Condominiums” it read. That’s odd. Really? Named after the quasi-girlie mag? For real? Can I get my own unit with Jenny McCarthy or something like that?

Sadly, it doesn’t seem to be connected at all, instead it’s a product of Clemens Construction and McWilliams|Ballard. Wouldn’t it be fun if DC got its very own supermodel-swank pad? Complete with all the rad tunes and slick gadgetry that Maxim hocks each month to its drooling subscribers? In our very own Tenleytown, no less!

Or is that just me that wants to believe that’s a business model that’s just waiting to be filled…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The first in an occasional series of stuff that’s sort of, but not totally, DC area news.

The president of Freewebs.com, Shervin Pishevar, called out Yahoo! recently for cooperating with the Chinese government. Will it get Freewebs some free publicity? You’re reading this, aren’t you? But nonetheless, good on Pishevar for taking a principled stand- I know those guys would love to have access to the Chinese market. Level of relation to DC: Freewebs is based in Silver Spring, Md.

My beloved Pittsburgh Steelers visited the White House last week. I wonder if they invited Antwaan Randle El, who signed with the Washington Redskins for next season? By the way, when Randle El threw out the first pitch at that Nats game a few weeks ago, I was the one screaming “SELLOUT!” amongst all the cheers. Level of relation to DC: Antwaan Randle El and the White House are both here.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Big Head Rob is reporting that over the weekend DCist fired Colleen Egan. That’s not news. What’s news is why they fired her. They fired her for blogging at the Post Express’ Free Ride Blog and writing freelance material for the Express.

What I can’t figure out is why you fire someone for writing for another publication. Especially when blogging is volunteer in this day and age, why would DCist fire someone for writing for another blog, when it just enhances their reputation for having great bloggers?

This smacks of Jake Dobkin, and doesn’t look good for either Martin or Ryan. I’ve worked with Ryan and Martin behind the scenes, and I can say that they’re standup guys, I just can’t understand why they’d do this to one of their better contributors.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The Nats have had a really rough season. At 25-32, there are only a few teams with worse records, and their god awful 10-13 home record is eclipsed only by the Marlins. There have been injuries (Patterson, Eischen, Guillen), and there have been heartbreaking losses (including some late game winners and extra inning games gone bad), but now it seems that the Nats are getting up on their feet and winning some balgames, including a weekend sweep of the Brewers, including two homers last night to bring his season total up to 21.

They’ve won four of the last five series, taking sets from Baltimore, Houston, the Dodges and most recently the Brewers, the Nats are on a bit of a roll, and just in time to face Atlanta. They’re sending Livan to the mound tonight and Hernandez has three wins in his last three starts, so there’s a good shot there, and Ortiz goes to the mound on Wednesday, also with three straight victories notched on his belt. The middle pitcher of the series is a bit of a wild card, Shawn Hill has but one start this season and while it was a solid seven inning effort against the Dodgers, it’s a bit tough to say how hell do against the Braves.

As usual, Chris Needham from Capitol Punishment has a great week’s roundup including stats and awards for our beloved Nationals. Don’t forget, the Nats come back to RFK in time for a weekend series against the Phillies, so make sure to walk up and get some of the cheap tickets, then move down to the good seats in the fifth inning when the ushers are all on their second beer. Go Nats!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

…somebody hits the nail so directly on the head, it’s as if they’ve been born to do it. Rusty from whyihatedc is today’s amazing nail-striker taking on the exclusive DC LateNightShots for its bizarro membership policies:

Invitation only? EFF THAT.

Since I have yet to be invited to this august organization, I have no way of seeing what was written about me. My very fragile ego can’t handle that suspense. I am just going to assume disrespect.

Anyways, the welcome page is filled with some hilarious pictures. You can find them yourself if you click on that link and press the refresh button. Now, let’s have some fun at other people’s expense!

What follows is a hilarious take on local exclusive organization, complete with lambasting of photos from their welcome page. Nicely done, Rusty.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs